Liverpool vs. Sunderland: Score, Grades and Reaction from Premier League Game
It was another frustrating afternoon for Liverpool fans as the team failed to score against Sunderland on Saturday, with the match ending 0-0.
The big news of the day was the exclusion of Steven Gerrard for the second weekend in succession. Brendan Rodgers' team has its vital Champions League group match against Basel on Tuesday—a game that the Reds need to win to stay in the competition.
Since Gerrard will lead the team for that crucial game, he was left on the bench for this contest.
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Liverpool also once again started the match with Rickie Lambert leading the line for the fourth Premier League running as the lone striker.
The Black Cats have not beaten the Reds away from home since 1983, and Gus Poyet picked an attacking side with Jozy Altidore and Connor Wickham in the forward positions.
Liverpool started the game by trying to put pressure on Poyet's team, but the Black Cats more than held their own for much of the first half.
Liverpool began to put their game together later in the period with Raheem Sterling and Philippe Coutinho combining to great effect.
But Sunderland looked dangerous with the ball at feet, and Rodgers' team never looked fully in control during the first 45 minutes.
The game stumbled to stalemate at half-time, with football reporter Thore Haugstad highlighting the tepid nature of the play and Duncan Castles of The Sunday Times reporting Liverpool's lack of possession and shots:
Match of the Day's Gary Lineker also had his say about Liverpool at half-time, criticising Rodgers' team when its captain is not pulling the strings:
"Pedestrian first half at Anfield. Watching Liverpool without Gerrard is a little like watching Liverpool without a player like Gerrard.
— Gary Lineker (@GaryLineker) December 6, 2014"
Sunderland should have taken the lead straight after the break, but Connor Wickham missed the target with a glorious chance.
The Sunderland forward received the ball to the left of Simon Mignolet's goal and should have worked the keeper. Instead, he flashed his effort wide of the right post.
Despite Sunderland's good start to the second half, the home side started to get the ball down on the floor and put together stronger spells of attacking possession.
And on 66 minutes, Rodgers finally decided to take the plunge and put Gerrard on, replacing Adam Lallana.
Entering the last part of the game, Liverpool started to turn the screw on Sunderland, with Gerrard's presence beginning to change the match.
The Times' Arindam Rej commented on the Reds' frequency of attack and improvement:
The Reds pushed hard in the last 15 minutes, but despite the constant pressure, Poyet's team soaked up much of the threat.
Sterling had a penalty shout turned down during the frantic end, but the referee waved away his appeals with the Anfield crowd going wild.
Liverpool were unable to break the deadlock despite their best efforts, and Poyet's team took home a much deserved point.
Select Player Ratings
Raheem Sterling: C+
Despite his younger years, Liverpool need more from Sterling right now. He is a talisman for Rodgers now, and the reliance on him means he must provide goals and assists. Today, he did not do this.
Connor Wickham: C
Wickham did not start as a striker on Saturday afternoon, but he was the Black Cats' biggest threat. His movement caused Liverpool trouble, but he should have done better with the few chances he had.
Philippe Coutinho: B-
Coutinho was tricky as always and involved in much of Liverpool's best play. He always looked to attack the Black Cats and put them under pressure from deep. He was substituted in the second half as Liverpool chased the game.
Post-Match Reaction
Brendan Rodgers was in a reflective mood post-match, feeling his team improved consistently through the game.
Bleacher Report's Karl Matchett quoted the Reds boss in his press conference after the game:
Journalist Imran Garda spoke about Liverpool's lack of quality signings after the loss of Luis Suarez and compared them to Manchester United after they sold Cristiano Ronaldo to Real Madrid:
It was a hugely frustrating game for Rodgers and Co. as the team misfired continually against a resolute Sunderland side.
Rodgers touched on this point and talked about his team's performance after the match, via Liverpool's official website:
"Teams maybe come here a little bit deeper this year, and you've got to give Sunderland credit today as well - they defended well.
We're a different team to last year, with different players at the top end of the field. Guys like Rickie Lambert are giving their all and working very, very hard.
The supporters are used to seeing goals and that creativity, but it's a different team with different players. We have to continue to work hard - and that's what the players are doing.
"
Poyet has set his team up well for the big matches against Chelsea and Liverpool, and the manager's personal stock continues to grow.
Liverpool must invest in the next two windows if they have ambitions to move the club forward as they did last year. But at present, Rodgers' team looks like a shell of the one from six months ago, and the team's players must start to handle the responsibilities of playing for one of England's great clubs.
